BURNSVILLE, Minn. – The Augustana women's basketball team is the NSIC South Division Preseason favorite. The league's coaches voted the Vikings atop the South Division with three first-place votes and 44 points. In addition, Augustana was picked third in the overall NSIC poll with two first-place votes while Aislinn Duffy was picked as the Vikings' Player to Watch.
 
Augustana recorded a 12-5 record in the shortened 2021 season and returns everyone with the exception of two graduated seniors. Dave Krauth, now in his 33^rd season at the helm of the Vikings, went on to be named the league's Coach of the Year following the regular season.
 
The Vikings return three starters with Lauren Sees and Duffy being named to the second team of the NSIC South Division last year. Duffy averaged 14.2 points per game while shooting 48 percent from the field. She also secured 6.7 rebounds per outing while tallying four double-doubles.
 
"Aislinn is a fundamentally solid player who continues to improve her game," Krauth said. "She is a very skilled post player and also prides herself in her preparation and decision making."
 
Sees averaged 13.7 points per contest while starting all 17 games. Jennifer Aadland is the other returning starter as she averaged 5.6 points and 4.8 rebounds during her freshman campaign.
 
"This team wants to get better," Krauth added. "They want to be challenged and are always looking for ways to improve as a group. They pride themselves in putting the team first and are excited when their teammates shine.
 
The Vikings also return a veteran presence in Vishe' Rabb who returned in 2021 after a season-ending injury just six games into the 2019-20 season. Rabb, who has started 21 of her 53 games played, has recorded a career scoring average of 10.6 points per game.
 
Augustana begins the 2021-22 season on Nov. 15 hosting Peru State inside the Elmen Center. The Sanford Pentagon debut for Augustana is Dec. 2 as the Vikings host Sioux Falls.
 
NSIC contests in 2021-22 have a format change with the men's and women's teams alternating who plays first. Stay tuned to GoAugie.com and the GoAugie App, presented by CellOnly, for full schedule details.